Imperial Memories: A Record of Late Qing Observations by The New York Times (Revised Edition)

Author: Zheng Xi Yuan
Publisher:
Publish Date: 2007-01-01
Features: This book is a selection of The New York Times' reports on China, covering the period from January 1854 to October 1911. During this era, China was undergoing the "great transformation unseen in a thousand years," transitioning from an independent and self-reliant Eastern empire to the "sick man of East Asia." Traditional imperial rule and the scholar-official political system came to an end, while military, economic, cultural, and social life underwent profound changes. The people endured unimaginable suffering.
The New York Times, with a modern perspective and technology that the Chinese of the time did not yet possess, observed and recorded this period of history in real time, comprehensively, and continuously. The content covers domestic affairs, foreign relations, national defense, culture, society, revolution, and the overseas Chinese, making it not only an extremely detailed and valuable historical source but also a unique perspective on modern Chinese history. The book is accompanied by over 100 illustrations and photographs, most of which are selected from Western newspapers of the same era. These scenes and on-the-ground records by Western journalists further enhance the historical significance and collectible value of the book.